Sorry for the wait, enjoy!
In the morning, we set out, scared and concealed. Hermione wears Bellatrix's face, Ron is transfigured enough to be unrecognizable, and Draco, Griphook and I walk concealed under the cloak. It's hard to remain covered, but we'll have to manage because Draco is almost as wanted by Voldemort as me, and hard to disguise with his defined features.
"Do we all know the plan?" Hermione asks once again, and we all nod, even though there is one part that none of us have an idea about. The sword, which Griphook requires as payment. Draco doesn't know why we need it, but he knows we do, and convinced us that the only thing to do is pull back from the deal until we finish what needs to be done. I feel wrong, but no one gets through a war with morals maintained completely.
We enter the bank with Hermione in the lead, her head held high as we walk past the wizards who evaded any purging. A part of me hates them, but then a look at Draco makes me know better. They're all hiding, like the rest of us, except they're in plain sight. Draco looks slightly sick, and glances nervously at Hermione's back, the spitting image of his aunt. I squeeze his hand reassuringly, but he doesn't acknowledge it. He doesn't want to be here, but he's forcing himself, for me, and I've never been more grateful.
"Good evening Ms. Lestrange. I hope you don't mind, but we will have to process you through security." A tall man says, stopping our group. Hermione looks taken a back for a second, but then stands tall, maintaining her character.
"I don't have time for this, let me go to my vault. Check my wand." Hermione says in a cold tone that mimics Bellatrix's, holding out the woman's wand.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Ms. Lestrange, but we were told your wand was stolen?" Travers, a new leader of the bank comments coolly.
"Imperius!" Harry can barely make out the soft words coming from Ron, who is beside him, and Travers takes on a dazed look.
"Let them through." Travers murmurs as goblins begin to circle Hermione, stopping them. The guards grudgingly let us pass, although further looks are exchanged.
"They're suspicious." Griphook mutters quietly. "We won't have much time." We quicken our pace slightly, although not noticeably, nervous tremors causing our hands to shake. I don't let go of Draco's and for the first time today he squeezes back.
We settle into the rough cart with our goblin escort, who Hermione quickly puts under the imperius curse. The ride is rough and silent, and I can hear the heartbeat of everyone in the cart, feel the fear running off of us like sweat. We probably will never reach above ground free again, and every one of us knows it.
Suddenly, Griphook clenches and his eyes dart.
"This is wrong. This is wrong!" He yells, frantically trying to start the brakes. But it is to no avail, as we veer off the path and plummet down a sideway towards a loud, thundering sound. When we turn the corner, I see that it's a waterfall.
"Oh no." Hermione mutters as she pulls out her wand and tries to stop the cart as well. But it's too late, and we pass through.
"Thief's Downfall." Griphook tells us, and when I look at Ron and Hermione I can see why. They're back to themselves, as soon as they passed through the water. I pull the cloak off us, earning a look of surprise from the group.
"It's no use now, we've got barely any time before they catch us. We have to get to the vault."
"And what then? How will we get out of this?" Draco asks angrily. "You never think ahead, and I hate it." He's right, I don't know how we'll get out, but there's no time to establish another plan.
"There's nothing else to do!" I yell back, and to my surprise Draco goes quiet, nodding. We run after the goblin, who quickly locates Bellatrix's vault, opening it with his nails. Before we go in, I pull Draco aside.
"It's too late to go back. I don't know if we'll make it. But I'll do everything I can, because I won't let them take you away from me." I tell him quickly, before Draco pulls me into a hasty kiss and drags me into his aunt's vault.
Reviews are loved :)